Mold assembly for forming heated glass sheets

ABSTRACT

A mold assembly (34) for cyclically forming heated glass sheets includes a lower mold (36) having an upwardly oriented mold face (356) and an upper mold face having a downwardly oriented mold face (56) that opposes the upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet during movement of the molds toward each other. Alignment guides (122,124) align the molds (36,38) with each other as necessary during movement of the molds toward each other. Detachable connectors (362) detachably connect the molds to each other for installation and are disconnectable to permit the molds to be used for glass sheet forming. In one embodiment, the detachable connectors (362) are latches that include a latch member (364) and a keeper (366), and in another embodiment the detachable connectors are retainers (370) engageable and disengageable from the molds to provide their detachable securement. The upper mold (38) includes a support plate (372) having mounting portions (374,376) and mounting guide portions (378,380,382) for providing alignment during mounting.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a mold assembly for cyclically forming heatedglass sheets.

BACKGROUND ART

Glass sheets are conventionally formed by heating within a furnace andthen forming within a heated chamber prior to delivery for cooling. Suchcooling can be slow cooling to provide annealing or faster cooling thatprovides heat strengthening or tempering. In connection with heating ofthe glass sheets, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,806,312 McMaster et al.;3,947,242 McMaster et al.; 3,994,711 McMaster; 4,404,011 McMaster; and4,512,460 McMaster. In connection with glass sheet forming, see U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,282,026 McMaster et al.; 4,437,871 McMaster et al.;4,575,390 McMaster; 4,661,141 Nitschke et al.; 5,004,491 McMaster etal.; and 5,472,470 Kormanyos et al. In connection with the cooling, seeU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,936,291 McMaster; 4,470,838 McMaster et al.; 4,525,193McMaster et al.; 4,946,491 Barr; and 5,385,786 Shetterly et al.

During the forming process, the heated glass sheets can be supported bya vacuum generated at a downwardly facing mold whose initial support ofthe glass sheet upon being received from a heating conveyor can beassisted by an upwardly directed heated gas flow that can be provided bygas jet pumps, such as disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,204,854 McMaster etal. and 4,222,763 McMaster.

For effective high yield glass sheet forming, it is important forcooperable molds to be properly positioned upon mounting and alignedwith each other during each cycle of operation therebetween, which ismade more difficult due to the heated environment in which the glasssheet forming takes place. See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,781,745 Mumford;5,158,592 Buckingham; 5,092,916 McMaster; and 5,230,728 McMaster. Theheated environment also makes it more difficult to change molds betweendifferent production runs that cannot utilize the same molds. See U.S.Pat. No. 5,137,561 Schnabel, Jr. which discloses changing a cloth ringon a glass sheet heating furnace.

After forming, heat strengthening or tempering can be performed by rapidcooling at a quench section between lower and upper quench modulesthereof and may have provision for transferring the glass sheet duringsuch cooling by blowing a greater amount of gas upwardly so as to permitthe associated quench ring that carries the glass sheet to move back tothe heated forming station in preparation for the next cycle. See U.S.Pat. No. 4,361,432 McMaster et al.

All of the above cited patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved moldassembly for cyclically forming heated glass sheets.

In carrying out the above object, the mold assembly of the inventionincludes a lower mold having an upwardly oriented mold face. An uppermold of the mold assembly has a downwardly oriented mold face thatopposes the upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold to form aheated glass sheet during movement of the molds toward each other.Alignment guides align the molds with each other as necessary duringmovement thereof toward each other to ensure proper forming. Detachableconnectors of the mold assembly connect the molds to each other topermit the lower mold to be suspended from the upper mold duringinstallation in and removal from a glass sheet forming station. Theconnectors disconnect the molds from each other for use in forming ofglass sheets in the glass sheet forming station.

In one embodiment, the detachable connectors comprise latches each ofwhich includes a latch member mounted on one of the molds and a keepermounted on the other mold. Each latch member is movable between alatched position that secures the associated keeper to connect the moldsto each other and an unlatched position where the associated keeper isreleased to permit movement of the molds with respect to each other.Latch connections of this embodiment extend between associated pairs ofthe latch members so as to be movable with each other between thelatched and unlatched positions.

In another embodiment, the detachable connectors comprise retainers thatare positioned in an engaged relationship with the molds to secure themolds to each other. These retainers are removable from the molds torelease the molds from each other.

In the preferred construction, the upper mold includes a support platehaving mounting portions for mounting the upper mold for use and havingmounting guide portions for guiding the upper mold into position uponinstallation for use. This support plate has opposite ends and spacedsides that cooperate to define a generally rectangular shape having anopen center. Each of the ends of the support plate has a pair ofmounting portions and a mounting guide portion therebetween, with thepair of mounting portions and mounting guide portion of one end of thesupport plate being exposed outwardly with respect to the rectangularshape of the support plate, and with the pair of mounting portions andmounting guide portion of the other end of the support plate beingwithin the open center of the rectangular shape of the support plate.Each side of the support plate has a mounting guide portion that ispreferably located within the center of the rectangular shape of thesupport plate.

The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention arereadily apparent from the following detailed description of the bestmodes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a glass sheet processing systemthat embodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view taken along the direction of line2--2 in FIG. 1 to illustrate the operation of a forming station and aquench station of the system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view taken along the direction of line 3--3 inFIG. 1 to illustrate the commencement of a glass sheet forming cycle asan upper mold is moved downwardly to adjacent a heating conveyor toreceive a heated glass sheet therefrom for the forming.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the forming apparatus similar to FIG. 3but at a later stage of the cycle after the upper mold has been movedupwardly and a lower mold has been moved horizontally on a lower moldshuttle to below the upper mold and then transferred to a lower moldsupport assembly in preparation for the forming.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the forming apparatus similar to FIG. 4but at a still later stage of the cycle after the upper mold has beenmoved downwardly to the lower mold to provide press forming therebetweenof the glass sheet.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the forming apparatus at a still laterstage of the cycle where the upper mold has been moved upwardly and aquench ring has been moved below the upper mold to receive the formedglass sheet therefrom in preparation for movement to a quench stationfor quenching.

FIG. 7 is a partially broken away perspective view that illustrates aglass sheet heating furnace of the system by phantom line representationand also illustrates the forming station and the quench station.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view taken along the direction of line 8--8 in FIG.2 and from the left toward the right illustrates the lower forming mold,the upper forming mold which is shown by phantom line representation,and a quench shuttle that supports the quench ring.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view taken along the direction of line 9--9 inFIG. 8 to further illustrate the lower mold, the upper mold, and thequench shuttle that carries the quench ring.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view taken in section along the direction ofline 10--10 in FIG. 9 to illustrate a roller and horizonal positionersthat support one side of a lower mold shuttle that moves the lower moldhorizontally during the forming cycle.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view that illustrates a lower mold supportassembly shown in this embodiment as a ball transfer including a ball onwhich the lower mold is supported during the forming.

FIG. 11a is an elevational view of another embodiment of the lower moldsupport assembly which is shown as including a pad on which the lowermold is supported during the forming cycle.

FIG. 12 is an elevational view taken in the same direction as FIG. 9 butillustrating the upper and lower molds during press forming of the glasssheet.

FIG. 12a is a sectional view taken along the direction of line 12a--12ain FIG. 12 to illustrate an insulated tubular construction of the lowermold shuttle.

FIG. 13 is a view also taken in the same direction as FIG. 9 toillustrate the manner in which the quench shuttle moves to below theupper mold at a later stage of the cycle to receive the formed glasssheet in preparation for movement to the quench station.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the direction of line 14--14 inFIG. 4 to illustrate the forming apparatus, the lower mold supportassembly, an upper mold support assembly, and a support and actuatingmechanism for the upper mold support assembly.

FIG. 15 is a partially broken away perspective view that illustrates theupper mold support assembly and its support and actuating mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a partially broken away perspective view of the upper moldsupport assembly and also illustrates the upper mold and mounting guidesutilized in supporting the upper mold.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of apparatus of the system for changing amold assembly of the lower and upper molds which are secured to eachother by detachable connectors embodied by latches.

FIG. 17a is a view of an alternate embodiment of the detachableconnectors embodied by removable retainers.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are respectively taken along the directions of lines18--18 and 19--19 of FIG. 17 and illustrate rails of a primary railwayof the mold changing apparatus.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are respectively taken along the directions of lines20--20 and 21--21 of FIG. 17 and illustrate rails of an auxiliaryrailway of the mold changing apparatus.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the quench station of theapparatus and is illustrated in its operational condition.

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 but shows the quench station with arail on which the quench shuttle is moved in an idle position so as tofacilitate changing of quench modules of the quench station.

FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along the direction of line 24--24 inFIG. 22 and illustrates the manner in which the quench shuttle issupported by the associated rail to move the quench ring between theforming station and the quench station.

FIG. 25 is a top plan view that illustrates a quench loader utilized tochange a set of lower and upper quench modules of the quench station.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating the quench loader.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a glass sheet forming andquench system embodying the invention is generally indicated by 10 andwill be summarily described before a detailed description of eachstation, apparatus, and method of operation utilized to perform theforming and quenching of glass sheets. System 10 includes an elongatedfurnace 12 in which glass sheets are heated during movement along aprimary system axis A, which movement is also referred to as a directionof conveyance through the system. The conveyance within the furnace 12may be on a roll conveyor 14 that includes rolls 16 as illustrated inFIGS. 2-7. As specifically shown in FIG. 7, the glass sheets areintroduced into the system 10 at a loading table 18 for movement into asystem housing 20 that defines a heated chamber 22 as shown in FIGS.2-6.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the glass sheets after heating toforming temperature are moved to the right to a forming station 24 thatincludes apparatus 26 for cyclically forming the glass sheets as ishereinafter more fully described. This apparatus 26 includes an uppermold support assembly 28 and also includes a support and actuatingmechanism 30 that moves the upper mold support assembly verticallyduring the forming operation. In addition, the system includes apparatus32 for changing a heated mold used in the glass sheet forming operation.A mold assembly 34 utilized in the forming operation can be changed bythe mold changing apparatus 32 as more specifically shown in FIG. 17 andincludes a lower mold 36 and an upper mold 38 that are both changed atthe same time. More specifically, after removal of a heated moldassembly 34 including lower and upper molds 36 and 38, another preheatedmold assembly 34' having lower and upper molds 36 and 38 can beinstalled in the system as is hereinafter more fully described.

System 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a quench station 40 forquenching the formed glass sheets. This quench station, as also shown inFIGS. 25 and 26, includes a quench loader 42 that loads and unloads aquench module set 44. More specifically, the quench loader 42 isoperable to provide the loading and unloading of the quench module set44 which includes a lower quench module 46 and an upper quench module 48that are spaced from each other in an opposed relationship during use tocooperatively provide both upwardly and downwardly directed quenchinggas that rapidly cools and tempers a formed glass sheet as ishereinafter more fully described.

With reference to FIGS. 2-6, the forming station 24 and quench station40 will be described in connection with their schematic illustration tofacilitate an understanding of the method of operation of the systemprior to a more complete integrated description of the apparatus andmethod of operation in connection with the other drawings. As shown inFIG. 2, the forming apparatus 26 of the forming station 24 is locatedwithin the heated chamber 22 of the system housing 20. Morespecifically, the upper mold support assembly 28 supports the upper mold38 for vertical movement above the roll conveyor 14. The formingapparatus 26 also includes a lower mold shuttle 50 for supporting thelower mold 36 for movement at an elevation above the heating conveyor 14between an idle position shown by solid line representation spacedhorizontally from the upper mold 38 and a use position below the uppermold as shown by phantom line representation. In the idle position, thelower mold is located within a lateral extension 20' of the systemhousing as shown in FIG. 14, which lateral extension is referred to asthe "hot box".

An initial cycle of the glass forming operation begins with the lowermold shuttle 50 positioning the lower mold 36 in its solid lineindicated idle position and, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper mold supportassembly 28 moves the upper mold 38 downwardly into proximity with aheated glass sheet G received under the upper mold on the rolls 16 ofthe conveyor 14. A vacuum generator 54 then draws a vacuum at adownwardly facing surface 56 of the upper mold 38 and gas jet pumps 58below the conveyor 14 blow heated gas upwardly between the rolls 16 toprovide a differential gas pressure that transfers the glass sheet tothe upper mold 38.

The glass forming cycle continues as shown in FIG. 4 as the support andactuating mechanism 30 moves the upper mold support assembly 28 upwardlyto thus move the upper mold 38 and the glass sheet G supported therebyto an upper position spaced above the conveyor 14. The lower moldshuttle 50 then moves the lower mold 36 from its idle position shown bysolid line representation in FIG. 2 to its use position shown by phantomline representation and illustrated schematically also in FIG. 4 belowthe upper mold 36. In this use position, the support of the lower mold36 is transferred from the lower mold shuttle 50 to a lower mold supportassembly 60 as is hereinafter more fully described. While supported onthe lower mold support assembly 60, the lower mold 36 can movehorizontally as necessary for alignment with the upper mold 38 as theupper mold support assembly 28 moves the upper mold downwardly to theposition of FIG. 5 where the glass sheet G is formed between the lowerand upper molds 36 and 38. After such forming, the upper mold supportassembly 28 moves the upper mold 38 upwardly and the lower mold 36 istransferred from the lower mold support assembly back to the lower moldshuttle 50 for movement from the use position under the upper mold 38back to the idle position. At the same time, a quench shuttle 62 of thequench station 40 shown in FIG. 2 is moved by an actuator 64 to move aquench ring 66 on the quench shuttle from a quench position between thelower and upper quench modules 46 and 48 to a transfer position belowthe upper mold 28 as shown in FIG. 6. The upper mold 38 is then moveddownwardly to the quench ring 66 and the vacuum generator 54 thenterminates the vacuum drawn at the downwardly facing surface 56 of theupper mold 38 and preferably also concomitantly provides a pressurizeddownward gas flow at that surface so as to release the formed glasssheet onto the quench ring 66. The actuator 64 of the quench shuttle 62shown in FIG. 2 then moves the quench ring 66 from the forming station26 back to the quench station 40 for quenching of the formed glass sheetbetween the lower and upper quench modules 46 and 48.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lower mold shuttle 50 includes a pair of spacedshuttle members 68 that are, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12, supportedby associated vertically movable rollers 70. These rollers have an upperposition that supports the members 68 of the lower mold shuttle 50during the movement of the lower mold between the idle and use positionsas previously described in connection with FIG. 2. The rollers 70 alsohave a lower position at which the lower mold shuttle 50 is moveddownwardly with the lower mold 36 in the use position to provide thetransfer of the lower mold to the lower mold support assembly 60.

As best shown in FIG. 10, the forming apparatus also includes horizontalpositioners 72 that cooperate with the rollers 70 to support and guidethe shuttle members 68 of the lower mold shuttle 50 during the movementof the lower mold between the idle and use positions. More specifically,each roller 70 has a horizontal shaft 74 that extends outwardly from theheated chamber through a vertical slot 76 in the system housing 20 andis supported by an associated bearing 78. A seal 80 on each roller shaft74 moves vertically with the roller and seals the housing slot 76.Furthermore, each horizontal positioner 72 is embodied as a rotatablepositioner having a vertical shaft 82 that extends downwardly throughthe floor of the system housing 20 so as to project outwardly from theheated chamber where an associated bearing 84 provides its rotatablesupport. The shafts 74 and 82 may be hollow and have end couplings thatare connected to a liquid coolant hose so as to prevent excessiveheating. Each of the bearings 78 and 84 is supported by a common mount86 that is moved vertically by a cam mechanism 88 to provide thevertical movement of the rollers 70 as well as providing verticalmovement of the horizontal positioners 72. More specifically, the cammechanism 88 includes a cam 90 that moves the mount 86 vertically andalso includes a cross shaft 92 that connects the cams associated witheach of the pair of rollers 70 respectively associated with the pair ofspaced shuttle members 68 of the lower mold shuttle 50. A suitablerotatable actuator rotates the cross shaft 92 to move the cams 90 andthe associated rollers 70 and horizontal positioners 72 vertically forthe transfer of the lower mold between the lower mold shuttle 50 and thelower mold support assembly as previously described.

With reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, the lower mold support assembly 60includes four lower supports 94 for supporting the lower mold 36adjacent the corner tabs 96 thereof as shown in FIG. 8. In oneconstruction illustrated in FIG. 11, each lower mold support 94 isembodied by a ball transfer 98 having a housing 100 that supports a ball102 by a ball track 104. A fluid inlet 106 and a fluid outlet 108 permita liquid coolant to provide cooling so that the ball 102 is liquidcooled. In another construction illustrated in FIG. 11a, the lowersupport includes a pad 110 that supports the associated corner tab 96 ofthe lower mold 36. The housing 100 in this construction of the lowermold support also has a fluid inlet 106 and a fluid outlet 108 so thatthe pad 110 is liquid cooled. Preferably, the pad 110 is made from acarbon material. The use of the ball transfer 98 shown in FIG. 11 ispreferable when it is desired for the lower mold 36 to move horizontallymore easily, while the embodiment of FIG. 11a with the liquid cooledcarbon pad 110 is useful in applications to prevent excessive horizontallower mold movement.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, the lower mold shuttle 50 includesa lock 112 that secures the lower mold 36 against movement on the lowermold shuttle along its direction of travel during the movement betweenthe idle and use positions. More specifically, the lock 112 includes apair of lock rods 114 each of which has a ball socket connection 116 toan associated lower mold corner 96 and also has an end that extendsthrough a hole in a tab 118 on the associated shuttle member 68. A lockmember 120 pivotally mounted on each tab 116 also has a hole throughwhich the associated lock rod 114 extends. An unshown actuator isconnected to both lock members 120 to pivot the lock members betweenunlocked and locked positions. In the locked position, the lock membersclamp against the lock rods 114 to prevent movement thereof and theconnected lower mold on the lower mold shuttle along the direction oftravel between the idle and use positions. The lower mold is lockedagainst movement on the lower mold shuttle along the direction of travelas it moves between the idle and use positions. In the unlockedposition, the hole of each tab 118 is aligned with the hole in the lockmember 120 so as to permit movement of the lock rods 114 and hencemovement of the lower mold 36 horizontally along the direction of travelbetween the idle and use positions, as previously described.Furthermore, the unlocked position, the ball and socket connections 116permit horizontal movement of the lower mold 36 in a transversedirection to the direction of movement between the idle and usepositions. The lower mold 36 is thus then free to move horizontally onthe lower mold support assembly for alignment adjustment in the useposition as the upper mold 36 is moved downwardly as illustrated in FIG.12. It should be noted that the ball and socket connection 116 is openon its upper side to permit detachment of the rods 114 from the lowermold 36 for mold changing as is hereinafter more fully described.

With combined reference to FIGS. 1, 9, and 12, the lower and upper molds36 and 38 have a longitudinal alignment guide, collectively indicated by122, and have a pair of lateral alignment guides, collectively indicatedby 124. Each of these alignment guides 122 and 124 as shown at FIGS. 8and 9 includes a pair of spaced rollers 126 on the lower mold 36 andalso includes a downwardly projecting pin 128 on the upper mold 38. Therollers 126 of the longitudinal alignment guide 122 are positioned alongaxes that extend transverse to the primary system axis A so as to thusposition the lower horizontal mold 36 longitudinally along the primaryaxis when the upper mold 36 is moved downwardly to the position of FIG.12. In addition, as also shown in FIG. 8, the rollers 126 of the pair oflateral alignment guides 124 extend parallel to the system axis A suchthat downward movement of the upper mold 38 to the position of FIG. 12causes the rollers 126 to receive the pins 128 and provide lateralpositioning of the lower mold 36. This positioning of the lower mold 36as necessary takes place with the lower mold 36 in the use position andsupported by the lower mold supports 94 of the lower mold supportassembly 36 previously described. Upon movement of the upper mold 38 tothe lower position shown in FIG. 12, the lower and upper molds arealigned so as to ensure proper press forming of the heated glass sheetbetween the molds.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the lower mold supports 94 of the lower moldsupport assembly 60 are spaced closer to each other than the lower moldshuttle members 68 so as to be located therebetween upon movement of thelower mold 36 on the lower mold shuttle 50 to the use position of FIG.12 where the transfer takes place between the lower mold shuttle and thelower mold support assembly. Also, the lower mold supports 94 aremounted as shown in FIG. 14 on a support member 129 within the heatedchamber 22 of the housing 20 as is hereinafter more fully described.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, the lower mold 36includes lower stops 130 and the upper mold 38 includes upper stops 132.More specifically, these stops 130 and 132 are located adjacent the fourcorners of the molds and engage each other as shown in FIG. 12 to ensureproper spacing between the molds in the lower position where the glasssheet is pressed. Thus, the stops prevent excessive pressure beingapplied to the glass sheet being formed.

With reference to FIG. 12a, the lower mold shuttle 50 has a tubularconstruction so as to permit liquid coolant to flow therethrough forcooling. This tubular construction of the lower mold shuttle 50 has anouter insulator 133 that maintains the mold shuttle at a lowertemperature in cooperation with the coolant flow.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the quench shuttle 62 that supports the quenchring 66 includes a pair of shuttle members 134 spaced from each other.These quench shuttle members 134 are supported for movement between thetransfer and quench positions previously described in FIG. 2 in a mannerthat is hereinafter more fully described in connection with thedescription of the quench station 40. The quench ring 66 includes cornersupports 136 that are supported by the shuttle members 134 of the quenchshuttle 62. This support of the quench ring 66 permits horizontalalignment adjustment thereof with the upper mold 38 in a manner similarto the alignment adjustment previously described in connection with thelower mold 36. More specifically, the quench ring 66 and the upper mold38 have a longitudinal alignment guide collectively indicated by 138 andalso have lateral alignment guides collectively indicated by 140. Thelongitudinal alignment guide 138 of the quench ring 66 includes a pairof rollers 142 that rotate about axes transverse to the primary systemaxis A and also utilizes the same downwardly projecting pin 128 of thelongitudinal alignment guide 122 of the upper mold 38 to providelongitudinal positioning along the primary system axis. The lateralpositioning guides 140 of the quench ring 66 each include a pair ofrollers 144 that rotate about axes parallel to the primary system axis Aspaced transversely from the longitudinal alignment guide of the quenchring. The lateral alignment guides 140 of the quench ring 66 alsoinclude downwardly projecting pins 146 on the upper mold 38 as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9 and these pins are received by its rollers 144 on thequench ring to provide lateral positioning of the quench ring when theupper mold 38 is moved downwardly as shown in FIG. 13 to receive aheated glass sheet from the upper mold as previously described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 13, the mold shuttle 62 includes alock 148 that prevents horizontal movement of the quench ring 66 on thequench shuttle during its movement between the transfer positionillustrated in FIG. 6 and the quench position illustrated in FIG. 2. Thelock 148 as shown in FIG. 8 includes a pair of lock rods 150respectively associated with the pair of shuttle members 134 of thequench shuttle. Lock 148 also includes a pair of lock members 152respectively supported by pivotal connections 154 on the pair of quenchshuttle members 134. Each lock rod 150 has an end moved by a suitableactuator 156 that is preferably an air cylinder. A connection at 158 ofeach lock rod 150 receives one end 160 of the associated lock member 152whose other end 162 is positioned over the adjacent corner support 136of the quench ring 66. Actuators 156 pull on the lock rods 150 to pivotthe lock members 152 counterclockwise and thereby provide a clampinglock of the associated quench ring corner support 136. This clampinglock prevents movement of the quench ring 66 on the quench shuttle 62during its movement between the transfer and quench positions. In thetransfer position illustrated in FIG. 13, each actuator 156 terminatesits pull on the associated lock rod 150 such that the lock member 152controlled thereby ceases the clamping of the associated quench ringsupport 136 in order to permit horizontal movement of the quench ring 66on the quench shuttle as necessary for alignment of the quench ring withthe upper mold 38 as the upper mold is moved downwardly to release theformed glass sheet onto the quench ring. Thereafter, the upper mold 38moves upwardly and the locks 148 are again locked as the quench shuttle62 moves the quench ring 66 from the transfer position to the quenchposition shown in FIG. 2 for the quenching of the glass sheet betweenthe lower and upper quench modules 46 and 48.

With reference to FIG. 14, the upper mold support assembly 28 is shownmounted within the heated chamber 22 of the system housing 20 to providesupport of the upper mold 38 that is used within this heated chamber toperform the glass sheet forming as previously described. This upper moldsupport assembly 28 includes a tubular support 164 that is collectivelyindicated by 164 and further illustrated also in FIGS. 15 and 16. Thetubular support 164 includes a fluid inlet 166 and a fluid outlet 168that permit flow of a liquid coolant through the tubular support toprovide temperature control that reduces thermal expansion of thetubular support within the heated environment in which it is located. Avertical guide 170 is located externally of the heated chamber and has avertically movable connection 172 to the tubular support 164 to permitvertical movement of the tubular support at a horizontally fixedlocation. The housing 20 includes a vertical slot 173 through which theconnection extends to permit vertical movement.

A mold support 174 of the upper mold support 28 is illustrated in FIGS.14-16 and supports the upper mold 38 that provides the forming of thehot glass sheets in a cyclical manner as previously described. Supportmounts 176 support the mold support on the tubular support 164. Alongitudinal positioner 178 and a pair of lateral positioners 180 locatethe mold support 174 with respect to the tubular support 164 to providea thermally stable center of the mold support. More specifically, thelongitudinal positioner 178 provides positioning of the mold support 174along the primary system axis A while the lateral positioners 180provide positioning in a direction transverse to the primary axis A ofthe system. The longitudinal positioner 178 is located longitudinally atapproximately the center of the supported upper mold 38 while thelateral positioners 180 are located laterally at the lateral center ofthe upper mold such that any thermal expansion takes place about athermally stable center generally at the center of the mold.

As illustrated best in FIGS. 15 and 16, the tubular support 164 has arectangular shape within which the mold support 174 is received.Likewise, the mold support 174 has a rectangular shape, as ishereinafter more fully described. The rectangular tubular support 164includes a pair of end tubes 182, one of which is communicated with thefluid inlet 166 and the other of which is communicated with the fluidoutlet 168. A pair of side tubes 184 of the tubular support extendbetween the pair of end tubes 182 thereof in a spaced relationship toeach other to cooperate with each other and with the end tubes indefining the rectangular shape of the tubular support. The pair of endtubes 182 have a larger cross-sectional flow area than the pair of sidetubes 184 to provide a generally uniform flow of liquid coolant throughthe tubes of the tubular support. More specifically, as illustrated, allof the tubes 182 and 184 of the tubular support have a round crosssection. As shown in FIG. 15, one of the end tubes 182 includes anextension 186 that extends from its rectangular shape to the verticalguide 170 and the other end tube includes an extension 188 that extendsthrough a vertical housing slot 189 to a lateral positioner 190externally of the heated chamber 22 of the system housing 20.

The vertical guide 170, as shown in FIGS. 14-16, includes anantifriction bearing 192 movable along a vertical guide rod 194 that isfixedly mounted externally of the heated chamber by post-mounted upperand lower lugs 196 and 198.

The lateral positioner 190, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, includes avertical positioning member 200 fixedly mounted externally of the heatedchamber such as by a post-mounting as illustrated in FIG. 15. Thelateral positioner 190 also includes a pair of spaced positioners 202embodied by rollers mounted on the end tube extension 188 with thevertical positioning member 200 therebetween so as to providepositioning about a lateral direction with respect to the primary systemaxis A.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the upper mold support 174includes a pair of end members 204 and a pair of side members 206 thatare connected to each other to define its rectangular shape. Aspreviously mentioned, the tubular support 164 has a rectangular shapethat receives the rectangular upper mold support 174.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the upper mold support 174 also includes apair of cross members 208 extending between the side members 206 thereofin a parallel relationship to the end members 204. The cross members 208have support connections 210 for supporting the upper mold support 174in a suspended manner from the support and actuating mechanism 30, as ishereinafter more fully described. One of the cross members 208 includesa pair of mold mounts 212 fixed thereto to mount the upper mold 38 as ishereinafter more fully described. These fixed mold mounts 212 have agenerally L shape extending downwardly from the associated mold supportcross member 208 with the lower foot thereof projecting along theprimary system axis A along the direction of conveyance during theheating of the glass sheets. The other mold support cross member 208includes a pivotally mounted yoke 214 having a pair of mold mounts 216spaced laterally from each other along the primary system axis A.Furthermore, each side member 206 includes a mold mounting guide 218 andeach cross member 208 includes a mold mounting guide 220. Morespecifically, the mold mounting guide 218 of each side member 206includes a guide ramp 222 and each mold mounting guide 222 of each crossmember 208 includes a pair of guide rollers 224.

The mold mounts 212 and 216 cooperate with the mold mounting guides 218and 222 to provide mounting of the upper mold 38 of the mold assembly 34shown in FIG. 17 in a manner that is hereinafter more fully described inconnection with the description of the mold assembly and the moldchanging.

With reference to FIG. 16, each support mount 176 includes a spade 226that extends inwardly from the tubular support 164 adjacent one of itscorners and as shown from the adjacent end of the side tube 184. Eachsupport mount 176 also includes an opening 228 in the mold support 174likewise adjacent one of its corners and as shown on one of the sidemembers 206. The openings 228 receive the spades 226 to provide themounting of the mold support 174 on the tubular support 164 whilepermitting horizontal positioning movement with respect thereto underthe operation of the positioners 178 and 180 previously described. Thesepositioners 178 and 180 as illustrated comprise pin and slot positionersthat extend between the tubular support 164 and the mold support 174with the longitudinal positioner 176 fixing the longitudinal center ofthe mold support 174 along the primary system axis A and with thelateral positioners 180 fixing the lateral center of the mold supporttransverse to the system axis A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, the tubular support 164 includes an outerinsulator 230 that includes an inner layer 232 of ceramic fiber and anouter metallic reflective layer 234.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 14, and 15, the support and actuatingmechanism 30 for the upper mold support assembly 28 is illustrated asincluding a framework 236 mounted on the factory floor 238 and includinghorizontal beams 240 as well as vertical posts 242 that support thehorizontal beams on the floor. An actuator 244 of the support andactuating mechanism 30 is mounted adjacent one of the vertical posts 242adjacent the factory floor 238 so as to be conveniently accessible.Furthermore, a plurality of connectors 246 extend from the actuator 244to the upper mold support assembly 28 at the spaced locations providedby the support connections 210 previously described.

As best illustrated by combined reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, eachconnector 246 of the upper mold support and actuating mechanism 28includes a vertical connector rod 248 having a lower end including aconnection 250 to the actuator 244 and having an upper end including aconnection 252 to an upper pivot link 254 mounted on the framework 236by a pivotal mount 256. Each connector 246 also includes a horizontalconnector rod 258 having one end connected to the associated upperpivotal link 254 by a pivotal connection 260. Each horizontal connectorrod 258 also has another end including a pivotal connection 262 to asector wheel 264, and each sector wheel 264 has a pivotal mount 266 onthe framework 236. Each connector 246 includes a flexible member 268extending from the associated sector wheel 268, and each connector alsoincludes a vertical mold rod 270 depending from the flexible memberthereof and connected to the upper mold support assembly 28 by thesupport connections 210 previously described. Operation of the actuator244, as is hereinafter more fully described, causes the mechanism 30 tomove the upper mold support assembly 28 vertically to provide the glasssheet forming operation previously described.

As shown in both FIGS. 14 and 15, the sector wheel 264 of each connector246 is preferably a sector sprocket and the flexible member 268 thereofis a chain that is received by teeth of the sprocket. Operation of theactuator 244 that moves each connector 246 thus rotates the sectorsprocket 246 to move the flexible chain 268 and thereby move theassociated mold rod 270 upwardly or downwardly to likewise move theupper mold support 28 vertically.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the actuator 244 includes a counterbalance272 for counterbalancing the weight of the upper mold support assembly28 and the upper mold 38 supported thereby for the glass formingoperation. This counterbalance 272 includes a gas cylinder 274 that hasa connection 276 to the factory floor 238. A piston 278 of the cylinder274 is biased by pressurized gas supplied by a pressurized gas reservoir280 so as to be urged in a downward direction. Furthermore, a lever 282of the actuator 244 is secured by the connections 250 to the connectors246 and to a connecting rod 284 of the piston 278 so as to thus beconnected to the counterbalance 272 for the counterbalancing operation.The volume of the pressurized gas reservoir 280 is on the order of 20times or so the volume of the gas cylinder 274 so that movement of thepiston does not substantially change the magnitude of the counterbalancebias.

As illustrated in both FIGS. 14 and 15, the actuator 244 also includes arotary drive 286 having a drive motor 288 that drives a gear box 290having a rotary output 292. With continuing reference to FIG. 14, thelever 282 has a central portion including a pivotal mount 294 and havinga first end 296 connected to the rotary drive 286 at its output 292 by adrive connector 298. More specifically, the drive connector 298 has aconnection 300 to the first lever end 296 and has a connection 302 tothe rotary drive output 292. Furthermore, the lever 282 has a second end304 connected to the connectors 246 and to the counterbalance 272 by theconnections 250.

As illustrated best in FIG. 14, the drive connector 298 includes anovertravel connection 306 that connects the rotary drive 286 at itsoutput 292 with the first end 296 of the lever 282. This overtravelconnection 306 permits the rotary drive 286 to move the mold supportassembly 28 downwardly to the lower position intended while permittingthe rotary drive to overtravel to ensure that the mold support assemblyis in the lower position.

As best illustrated in FIG. 15, there are four of the connectors 246extending between the actuator 244 and the upper mold support assembly28. The second lever end 304 has two legs 308 secured by the connections250 directly to the lower ends of two of the vertical connector rods 248of two of the connectors 246. Another portion 310 of the second leverend 304 is secured by the pivotal connection 250 to a pivotal yoke 312that has pivotal connections 314 to the lower ends of the other twovertical connector rods 248 of the other two connectors 246. This yoke312, in cooperation with the mold mounting yoke 214 previously describedin connection with FIGS. 14 and 16, ensures that the four pointconnection of the upper mold operates in a three point connection mannerso as to ensure proper mold support for the glass sheet forming. In thisconnection, each connector 246 includes an adjuster 216 for adjustingits length. More specifically, these adjusters 216 are threadedadjusters and are located along the vertical connectors rods 246 thatextend upwardly from the actuator 244 to the upper pivot links 250.Furthermore, the adjusters 314 are preferably located adjacent thefactory floor 238 so as to be conveniently accessible like the othercomponents of the actuator 244.

With reference to FIG. 17, the mold changing apparatus 32, asillustrated, provides for changing of the mold assembly 34 that includesboth the lower mold 36 and the upper mold 38 shown. However, it shouldbe appreciated that this mold changing apparatus can be utilized tochange only a single mold as well as a pair of molds although thechanging of a pair of molds of the mold assembly is a use for which theapparatus has particular utility in the system involved. Also, the moldschanged can be curved molds as illustrated for press bending and canalso be a flat transfer mold for transferring the heated glass sheetduring the forming process.

More specifically, the changing apparatus 32 is capable of removing aheated mold assembly 34 from the forming station 24 and replacing itwith a preheated mold assembly 34' in order to terminate one productionrun and begin another. In this connection, the mold changing apparatus32 includes a switching station that is generally indicated by 318 andlocated adjacent the forming station 24 at which the cyclical glasssheet forming takes place as previously described. An unloading station320 of the mold changing apparatus 32 is located adjacent the switchingstation 318 as is a mold preheating station 322. An unloading cart 324of the mold changing apparatus 32 is movable from the unloading station320 to the switching station 318 and then to the forming station 24 toreceive the mold assembly 34 by supporting the upper mold 38 thereof, asis hereinafter more fully described. The unloading cart 324 issubsequently moved from the forming station 24 back through theswitching station 318 to the unloading station 320 to permit unloadingof the mold assembly 34. A loading cart 326 positions a second moldassembly 34' for heating within the mold preheating station 322 so thatthe molds thereof are heated to operating temperature prior tocommencing the mold changing. After such heating, the loading cart 326is movable to move the heated second mold assembly 34' from the moldpreheating station 322 to the switching station 318 and then to theforming station 24 for loading of the second heated mold within theforming station by an installation process that is hereinafter morefully described.

With combined reference to FIGS. 1 and 17, the switching station 318 ofthe mold changing apparatus 32 is located downstream from the formingstation 24 along the primary system axis A in the direction ofconveyance of glass sheets within the heated chamber of the housing.Furthermore, the unloading station 320 is located downstream from theswitching station 318 along the direction of conveyance along the systemaxis A. In addition, the mold preheating station 322 is locatedlaterally with respect to the direction of conveyance from the switchingstation 318.

With combined reference to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, the mold changingapparatus 32 includes a primary railway 328 having a pair of spacedrails 330 and 332 that extend along the direction of conveyance from theforming station 24 through the switching station 318 to the unloadingstation 320 to support the unloading cart 324 for movement between theunloading station and the forming station through the switching stationand to support the loading cart 326 for movement between the switchingstation and the forming station. An auxiliary railway 334 of the moldchanging apparatus extends laterally with respect to the direction ofconveyance along the primary system axis A from the switching station318 to the mold preheating station 322 and includes a pair of spacedrails 336 and 338. The auxiliary railway 334 also includes an actuator,collectively indicated by 340 in FIG. 17, that moves its spaced railsfrom a lower idle position shown by phantom line representation in FIGS.20 and 21 to an upper use position shown by solid line representation tosupport the loading cart for movement between the mold preheatingstation and the switching station.

As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the unloading cart 324 includes aguiding wheel 342 supported by a rail that is a guiding rail 330 forpreventing any lateral movement of the unloading cart with respect tothe rail. The other associated rail 332 of the primary railway 328 has aT shape that supports another wheel 343 of the unloading cart 324. Thewheels 342 and 343 thus provide movement of the unloading cart 324 alongthe primary railway 328 between the unloading station 324 and theforming station 24 through the switching station 318 for the moldunloading process. Loading cart 326 likewise has wheels 342 and 343 forproviding movement thereof along the primary railway 328 between theswitching station 318 and the mold preheating station 322 with the rails336 and 338 of the auxiliary railway 334 in their lower idle positions.The loading cart 326 also includes wheels 344 and 345 for moving alongthe rails 336 and 338 of the auxiliary railway 334. One of the wheels345 is a guide wheel that moves along the guiding rail 338 and thusprevents any lateral movement of the loading cart 326 on the auxiliaryrailway 334. The other wheel 344 of the loading cart 326 moves along theT-shaped rail 336 of the auxiliary railway.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the actuator 340 of the auxiliary railway 334includes a pair of operators 346 for moving each of the rails 336 and338 vertically between the idle and use positions shown by phantom andsolid line representation in FIGS. 20 and 21. Each operator 346 includesa pivotal crank 348 and a cylinder 350. The pivotal crank 348 has afirst arm 352 connected to the associated rail 336,338 and a second arm354 connected to the cylinder 350. Extension and retraction of thecylinder 350 pivots the crank 348 to provide the movement of theassociated rail 336,338 between the lower idle position and the upperuse position. Thus, the rails 336 and 338 of the auxiliary railway 334are positioned in their upper use positions shown by solid linerepresentation in FIGS. 20 and 21 for the movement of the loading cart326 between the mold preheating station 322 and the switching station318. With loading cart 326 in the switching station 318, downwardmovement of the rails 336 and 338 to the idle positions transfers theloading cart to the primary railway 326 as its wheels 342 and 343 aresupported by the rails 330 and 332 of the primary railway. The loadingcart is then movable to the forming station 24 for loading installationof the mold assembly 34' after which it is moved back to the switchingstation. Both the unloading and loading carts 324 and 326 have unshownmold assembly supports that are secured by connectors 355.

Further description of the mold changing operation will await thefollowing discussion of the mold assembly 34 shown in FIG. 17. The moldassembly 34, as previously described, includes a lower mold 36 and anupper mold 38. The lower mold 36, as shown in FIG. 8, has an upwardlyoriented mold face that constitutes a press ring 356, while the uppermold 38, as shown in FIG. 9, has a downwardly oriented mold face that asdisclosed has a full surface 56 including openings 360 through which avacuum is drawn and through which positive pressure blow off air can besupplied as necessary. The upwardly oriented mold face of the lower mold36 as provided by the press ring 356 shown in FIG. 8 and the downwardlyoriented mold face of the upper mold 38 as provided by the full surface56 shown in FIG. 9 oppose each other to form heated glass sheets duringthe movement of the molds toward each other as previously described inconnection with the forming operation. Furthermore, the longitudinalalignment guide 122 and the lateral alignment guides 124 provided by thepins 128 and the rollers 126 as previously described align the moldswith each other as necessary during downward movement of the upper mold38 toward the lower mold 36 with the lower mold supported by the lowermold support assembly 60, as previously described and as is illustratedin FIG. 12. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 17, detachableconnectors 362 connect the molds 36,38 to each other to permit the lowermold to be suspended from the upper mold during installation within andremoval from the glass sheet forming station 24. These connectors 362disconnect the molds from each other during use in the forming of glasssheets in the glass sheet forming station 24, as previously described.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the detachable connectors 362 compriselatches, each of which includes a latch member 364 pivotally mounted onone of the molds, the lower mold 36 as illustrated. Each latch alsoincludes a keeper 366 mounted on the other mold, the upper mold 38 asshown. Each latch member 364 is movable in a pivotal manner between alatched position shown in FIG. 17 where the latch member secures theassociated keeper 366 and an unlatched position as shown in FIG. 14where the associated keeper is released so that the lower mold 36 ismovable independently of the upper mold 38. As shown in FIG. 17, latchconnections 368 extend between associated pairs of the latch members 364to provide movement thereof with each other between the latched andunlatched positions.

As illustrated in FIG. 17a, another embodiment of the mold assembly 34ahas the detachable connectors 362 embodied by retainers 370 that arepositioned as shown by solid line representation in an engagedrelationship with the lower and upper molds 36a and 38a to secure themolds to each other. These retainers 370 are removable from the molds36a and 38a as shown by phantom line representation to release the moldsfrom each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the upper mold 38 includes a support plate372 having mounting portions 374 and 376 for mounting the upper mold 36for use on the upper mold support 28 previously described. The supportplate 372 of the upper mold 38 also has mounting guide portions 378, 380and 382 for guiding the upper mold into position upon installation foruse on the mold support 174 of the upper mold assembly 28 previouslydescribed. More specifically, the upper mold support plate 372 includesends 384 and 386 and a pair of sides 388 that extend between its ends todefine a generally rectangular shape having an open center 390.

Each of the ends 384 and 386 of the upper mold support plate 372 has anassociated pair of the mounting portions 374,376 and one of the mountingguide portions 378,380 located between the associated pair of mountingportions 374,376. The pair of mounting portions 374 and the mountingguide portion 378 on the one end 384 of the support plate 372 is exposedoutwardly with respect to the rectangular shape of the support platewhich is in an upstream direction with respect to the direction ofsystem conveyance along its primary axis A. The pair of mountingportions 376 and the mounting guide portion 380 located therebetween onthe other end 386 of the plate 372 are within the open center 390 of therectangular shape of the support plate which also is in an upstreamdirection with respect to the direction of conveyance along the primarysystem axis A. Furthermore, each side 388 of the upper mold supportplate 372 has one of the mounting guide portions 382 that is locatedwithin the open center 390 of the rectangular shape of the supportplate.

With reference to FIGS. 14, 16, and 17, removal of a heated moldassembly 34 from the forming station 24 and installation of a secondmold assembly 34' will now be described. It should be noted that beforesuch mold changing commences, the second mold assembly 34' will havepreviously been positioned within the mold preheating station 322 asillustrated in FIG. 1 for heating to operating temperature inpreparation for the mold changing. In the mold preheating station 322,the loading cart 326 projects outwardly from opposite sides of thepreheating station through vertically movable doors 391 at loweropenings 391a thereof as shown in FIG. 17. Thus, the loading cart wheels342, 343, 344 and 345 are not continually heated as the mold assembly34' is heated.

The mold changing operation begins with the lower mold 36 positionedbelow the upper mold 38, as shown in FIG. 14, and the upper mold is thenmoved downwardly so that lower and upper stops 130 and 132 engage eachother as shown in FIG. 12. The detachable connectors 362 are thenattached by pivoting movement of the latch members 364 to engage thekeepers 366 so that the lower and upper molds 36 and 38 are secured toeach other as the mold assembly illustrated in FIG. 17. The upper moldsupport assembly 28 shown in FIG. 16 is then moved upwardly to permitmovement of the unoccupied loading cart 324 shown in FIG. 17 from theunloading station 320 through the switching station 318 to the formingstation 324 on the primary railway 328. The unloading cart is thenpositioned below the mold support assembly 28 shown in FIG. 16 anddownward movement of the mold support assembly 28 then positions themold assembly on the unloading cart. This downward movement of the moldsupport assembly 28 is then continued a slight extent until the moldmounts 212 and 216 move downwardly out of engagement with the mountingportions 376 and 378 of the upper mold support plate 372 and until theupper mold mounting guide portions 382 are positioned above the guideramps 222 so that the mold cart can then be moved downstream along theaxis A just a slight extent toward the switching station. This initialdownstream movement is just sufficient so that the mold support assembly28 can be moved upwardly without the mold mounts 212 and 216 engagingthe upper mold support plate 372. The upward movement is sufficient sothat the upper mold can then move farther downstream withoutinterference from the mold mounts 216 as well as the adjacent guiderollers 224 on the down-stream cross member 208 and without interferencewith the mold mounting guides 218 on the side members 206 of the moldsupport 174. The downstream movement of the unloading cart 324 thencontinues as previously described in connection with FIG. 17 along theprimary railway 328 through the switching station 318 to the unloadingstation 320 for unloading.

After the mold unloading, the second mold assembly 34' is then movedfrom the preheating station 322 by the loading cart 326 on the auxiliaryrailway 334 to the switching station 318, illustrated best in FIG. 17.At the switching station 318, the unloading cart 326 is then switched tothe primary railway 328 as previously described and moved upstream alongthe system axis A to the forming station 24.

Installation of the mold assembly 34' at the forming station 324 canbest be understood by reference to FIG. 16 which illustrates the uppermold 38 to which the lower mold is then secured as previously described.The mold support assembly 28 is then positioned above the upper mold 38so that the support plate 372 is free to move under the mold mounts 216and the adjacent guide rollers 224 as well as under the mold mountingguides 218. This movement positions the mounting portions 374 and 376 aswell as the mounting guide portions 382 just downstream from theassociated mold mounts 212 and 216 and the guide ramps 222,respectively. Downward movement of the mold assembly 28 a slightmovement of the loading cart upstream along the system axis A then movesthe upper mold mounting portions 374 and 376 to above the mold mounts212 and 216, respectively, while also positioning the mounting guideportions 378 and 380 above and between their associated guide rollers224 of the mounting guides 220 as well as positioning the mounting guideportions 382 above the guide ramps 222 of the mounting guides 218.Upward movement of the mold support assembly 28 then causes the moldmounting guides 218 and 220 to respectively align the associatedmounting guide portions of the upper mold support plate 372 so that themold mounts 212 and 216 respectively engage the bottom sides of themounting portions 374 and 378 to support the upper mold 38 at its properlocation.

After mounting of the mold assembly 34' illustrated in FIG. 17, the moldsupport assembly is moved farther upwardly so that the loading cart 326can be moved downstream along the axis A from the forming station 24 tothe switching station 318 in preparation for receiving another moldassembly for preheating by subsequent movement to the preheating station322.

After the above initial installation steps, the entire mold assembly 34'illustrated in FIG. 17 will then be suspended from the mold supportassembly 28 illustrated in FIG. 16. The lower mold shuttle 50illustrated in FIG. 8 is then moved to below the mold assembly which isthen lowered onto the lower mold shuttle prior to release of thedetachable connectors 362 so that the upper mold 38 can move upwardlyindependently of the lower mold as illustrated in FIG. 14. Aftermovement of the lower mold shuttle back to the position of FIGS. 8 and9, the upper mold 38 is then free to commence the glass sheet formingoperation as previously described.

With reference to FIG. 22, the quench station 40 of the system 20 islocated adjacent the forming station 24 and includes lower and uppersupply ducts 392 and 394 for providing pressurized air flow to the lowerand upper quench modules 46 and 48 to perform the quenching aspreviously described in connection with FIGS. 2, 6, 8, 9, and 13. Thequench station 40 as shown in FIG. 7 includes an upper catcher 395 thatis a conveyor to which the quenched glass sheets are blown upwardly andthen conveyed for delivery. As previously discussed, the quench station40 includes a quench shuttle 62 that supports the quench ring 66 formovement to the forming station 24 to receive a formed glass sheettherefrom and then moves the quench ring 66 back to the quench stationbetween the lower and upper quench modules 46 and 48 where thepressurized gas supply thereto provides quenching that heat strengthensor tempers the glass sheet. A quench railway, collectively indicated at396, includes a pair of spaced rails 398 on which the pair of quenchshuttle members 134 of the quench shuttle 62 are respectively movedbetween the forming and quench stations 26 and 40. More specifically,frame members 400 have upper ends to which the rails 396 are secured bydetachable threaded connectors 402 to fixedly mount the rails for use.In this use position, the spaced rails 396 extend on opposite sides ofthe quench ducts 392 and 394 and the lower and upper quench modules 46and 48 through which the pressurized quenching gas is supplied.

Each of the shuttle members 134 of the quench shuttle 62 has a supportedend 404 that is mounted for movement along the associated rail 398 ofthe shuttle railway 396. These supported ends of the shuttle members 134each includes a pair of vertical support members 406 and 408 that areconnected by lower and upper horizontal support members 410 as well asby a diagonal brace 412.

Each of the vertical support members 406 and 408 of the supported end404 of each shuttle member 134 is supported as illustrated in FIG. 24for movement along the associated rail 398 to move the quench ringbetween the forming station and the quench station. More specifically,the rail 398 includes a linear bearing 412 that is secured by connectors414 to the associated vertical support member, which is illustrated asthe vertical support member 406 closest to the forming station 24 asshown in FIGS. 22 and 23. The lower end of each of the vertical supportmembers 406 and 408, as illustrated in FIG. 24, supports a roller plate416 on which inner and outer rollers 418 are mounted with the lower endof the rail 398 located therebetween just above a stiffener rib 419 ofthe rail. With this construction, the supported end 404 of each shuttlemember 134 is mounted for movement along the direction of the railwithout any rotation in a manner that permits the shuttle members 134 tohave cantilevered ends 420 that support the quench ring 66 and areotherwise unconnected. It will be noted that the quench ring lock 148shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13 is not illustrated on the quench shuttlemembers 134 in the views of FIGS. 22 and 23 but actually are mountedthereon to operate as previously described.

With continuing reference to FIG. 22, the vertical support member 406 ofeach supported end 404 of shuttle member 134 has a lower end 422 thatextends downwardly and is connected to a belt drive mechanism 424 whosedrive motor 426 provides the impetus for driving each of the quenchshuttle members 134 in a manner coordinated by a cross shaft 428. Atleast one of the rail members 398 is movable from the use positionillustrated in FIG. 22 where the shuttle is supported for movementbetween the forming station and the quench station to provide accessthat permits loading and unloading of a quench module set 44 as ishereinafter more fully described in connection with FIGS. 25 and 26.Actually, the quench station 40 as constructed permits each of its rails398 to be moved from the use position so as to provide access to thequench modules 46 and 48 from both sides of the quench station.

With reference to FIG. 23, both of the rails 398 are mounted formovement as shown by the one rail from the use position to an idleposition spaced from the forming station 24 so as to permit the accessto the quench module set 44 including the lower and upper quench modules46 and 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, each rail 398 of the quench railway has aninner rail member 428 that is supported by a number of stationaryrollers 430 (only one shown) to mount the rail member for movement fromthe use position shown in FIG. 22 to the idle position shown in FIG. 23.This movement first requires that the connectors 402 be detached so thatthe rail 398 can be moved with respect to the frame members 400. Aftermovement back to the use position of FIG. 22, the connectors 402 arereconnected so that the shuttle member 62 can again be moved between theforming station 24 and the quench station 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, each of the rails 398 includes an actuator432 for moving the associated rail between the use and idle positions ofFIGS. 22 and 23. More specifically, each actuator 432 includes a toothedrack 434 secured to the rail and a pinion 436 meshed with the rack androtatable to thus move the rack between the use and idle positions. Amanual crank 438 of each actuator rotates the associated pinion 436 toprovide the rail movement.

With the quench station 40 accessible, as illustrated in FIG. 23,loading and unloading of a quench module set 44 can be convenientlyperformed by the quench loader 42 illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26. Morespecifically, the quench loader 42 includes a quench carriage 440 havinga pair of spaced sides 442 and an end 444 that extends between the sidesthereof to define a horizontally opening U shape that receives thequench module set 44 of the lower quench module 46 and the upper quenchmodule 48. The quench carriage 440 includes mounts 446 for mounting thequench module set 44 of the lower and upper quench modules 46 and 48 topermit use thereof with the lower and upper supply ducts of the quenchstation as previously described. The carriage 440 also permitssubsequent movement of the quench module set 44 of the lower and upperquench modules 46 and 48 from the quench station 40 to permit use ofanother set of lower and upper quench modules in the quench station.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the quench loader 42 includes an overheadcrane 447 that supports the quench carriage 440 and also includes anoverhead railway 448 along which the crane 447 moves to move the quenchcarriage and the quench module set 44 of the lower and upper quenchmodules 46 and 48 mounted thereby to and from the quench station 40. Theoverhead crane 447 includes a cable 450 by which the carriage 440 issuspended and which is received by pulleys 452 driven by a motor controlto move the carriage vertically during the installation and removalprocedures, as is hereinafter more fully described. Trolleys 453 supportthe crane 447 for movement to and from the quench station for the quenchmodule installation.

With continuing reference to FIG. 26, each side 442 of the quenchcarriage 440 includes the mounts 446, which are lower mounts forsupporting the lower quench module 46, and also includes upper mounts454 for mounting the upper quench module 48. More specifically, thelower mounts 446 are embodied by hooks whose lower hooked ends 456 arereceived by catchers 458 of the lower quench module 46 to provide itssupport. Furthermore, the upper mounts 454 are embodied by pads that areengaged by downwardly facing mounts 460 of the upper quench module 48.Furthermore, the lower mounts 446 are mounted on the sides of the quenchcarriage for horizontal movement such that their lower ends 456 movebetween the phantom and solid line indicated positions which facilitatethe installation and removal of the quench modules. More specifically,the hook-shaped lower mounts 446 are each mounted by a rod 462 incooperation with bearings 464 and a handle 466 provides the horizontalmovement. It will be noted that the lower mount 446 and lower quenchmodule catcher 458 in the lower foreground of FIG. 26 are higher thanthe lower mount 446 and catcher 458 shown upwardly and to the right sothat the carriage can move into position with the lower mountspositioned as shown as the leading lower mounts passes over the shortercatcher 458 upon moving toward the taller catcher 458.

As also illustrated in FIG. 26, each of the pressurized air supplyducts, such as the lower supply duct 392 illustrated, includes keys 468and each of the quench modules includes adjustable keyways 470 forreceiving the associated duct key. Upon the initial installation of eachquench module set 44, each adjustable keyway 70 is adjusted so as toprovide proper positioning of the associated quench module. Thereafter,no further adjustment is necessary upon each installation. Also, eachside 442 of the carriage 440 includes stops 472 that engage stops 474 ofthe adjacent quench module keyway 470 to provide proper positioningthereof with respect to the quench modules during the installation andremoval procedures.

Upon installation of the quench module set 44, the quench carriage 440supporting the quench module set 44, as previously described, is movedfrom adjacent the quench station 40 to the quench station. The overheadcrane 447 is then operated to lower the quench module set 44 so that thelower quench module 46 can be mounted on the associated lower supplyduct 392 and, after adjustment by the keyways to the proper position,secured by suitable conventional clamps. Rod handle 466 then moves thelower mounts 446 horizontally on the quench carriage sides 442 so thattheir lower hooked ends 456 move from the solid line indicated positionsto the phantom line indicated positions and thus release the quenchcarriage from the lower catchers 458 and hence from the lower quenchmodule 46. Thereafter, the overhead crane 447 moves the upper quenchmodule 48 upwardly so that its keyways 470 receive the keys of the uppersupply duct for positioning adjustment and mounting on the upper supplyduct by conventional clamps. The quench carriage is then moved back outof the quench station, and subsequent movement of the one quench rail398 from the idle position of FIG. 23 to the use position of FIG. 22then readies the quench station 40 for its operation.

Unloading of the quench module set 44 is essentially the reverse of theinstallation process with the upper quench module 48 first beingsupported by the carriage 440 and the lower quench module 46 then beingsupported prior to movement on the railway 448 from the quench station40.

With reference to FIG. 14, there are two of the support members 129 thateach mounts two of the four lower supports 94 of the lower mold supportassembly 60. Each support member 129 is made as a stainless steel plateand has opposite ends 476 that project outwardly from the system housing20. The support member ends 480 at each lateral side of the system aresupported by a chain rail 478 that is mounted on a horizontal beam 480supported by vertical posts 482 that extend upwardly from the factoryfloor 238. Each chain rail 478 also slidably supports a continuous chain484 that is movable along the length of the system and that supports theadjacent end of the conveyor rolls 16 for frictional driving to providethe glass sheet conveyance on the rolls between the lower supports 94. Alower portion 486 of the support member 129 supports an array 488 of thegas jet pumps 58. More specifically, the support member lower portion486 mounts rollers 490 on which a support and stop member 492 is mountedfor movement along the length of the system axis along which the glasssheets are conveyed. Member 492 supports rolls 494 of the gas jet pumparray 486 so that this array can also be moved along the system axis.Member 492 includes a stop 486 that is located below the location wherethe lower mold 36 is located in its use position as shown. This stop 496engages the gas jet pump array 486 so that its gas jet pumps 58 arelocated between the conveyor rolls 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Member 492projects outwardly from the end of the system housing 20 adjacent theswitching station previously described and is adjustably positioned soas to ensure the proper location of the stop 496 for positioning the gasjet pumps 58. Likewise, the gas jet pump array 486 also projectsoutwardly from the same end of the system housing so that it isremovable for servicing. Adjustment of the stop 496 to accommodate forthermal expansion can thus be accomplished outside of the heated chamberto ensure that the gas jet pumps 58 are properly positioned.

While the best modes for practicing the invention have been disclosed,those familiar with the art to which the invention relates willrecognize alternative modes and ways for practicing the invention asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mold assembly for cyclically forming heatedglass sheets, comprising:molds including a lower mold and an upper mold;the lower mold having an upwardly oriented mold face; the upper moldhaving a downwardly oriented mold face that opposes the upwardlyoriented mold face of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet duringmovement of the molds toward each other; alignment guides that align themolds with each other as necessary during movement thereof toward eachother; and detachable connectors for connecting the molds to each otherto permit the lower mold to be suspended from the upper mold duringinstallation in and removal from a glass sheet forming station, and theconnectors disconnecting the molds from each other for use in forming ofglass sheets in the glass sheet forming station.
 2. A mold assembly asin claim 1 wherein the detachable connectors comprise latches each ofwhich includes a latch member mounted on one of the molds and a keepermounted on the other mold, and each latch member being movable between alatched position that secures the associated keeper to connect the moldsto each other and an unlatched position where the associated keeper isreleased to permit movement of the molds with respect to each other. 3.A mold assembly as in claim 2 further including latch connections thatextend between associated pairs of the latch members so as to be movablewith each other between the latched and unlatched positions.
 4. A moldassembly as in claim 1 wherein the detachable connectors compriseretainers that are positioned in an engaged relationship with the moldsto secure the molds to each other, and the retainers being removablefrom the molds to release the molds from each other.
 5. A mold assemblyas in claim 1 wherein the upper mold includes a support plate havingmounting portions for mounting the upper mold for use and havingmounting guide portions for guiding the upper mold into position uponinstallation for use.
 6. A mold assembly as in claim 5 wherein thesupport plate has opposite ends and spaced sides that cooperate todefine a generally rectangular shape having an open center.
 7. A moldassembly as in claim 6 wherein each of the ends of the support plate hasa pair of mounting portions and a mounting guide portion therebetween,the pair of mounting portions and mounting guide portion of one end ofthe support plate being exposed outwardly with respect to therectangular shape of the support plate, and the pair of mountingportions and mounting guide portion of the other end of the supportplate being within the open center of the rectangular shape of thesupport plate.
 8. A mold assembly as in claim 7 wherein each side of thesupport plate has a mounting guide portion.
 9. A mold assembly as inclaim 8 wherein the mounting guide portion of each side of the supportplate is located within the open center of its rectangular shape.
 10. Amold assembly for cyclically forming heated glass sheets,comprising:molds including a lower mold and an upper mold; the lowermold having an upwardly oriented mold face; the upper mold having adownwardly oriented mold face that opposes the upwardly oriented moldface of the lower mold to form a heated glass sheet during movement ofthe molds toward each other, the upper mold including a support platehaving mounting portions for mounting the upper mold for use and havingmounting guide portions for guiding the upper mold into position uponinstallation for use, the support plate having opposite ends and spacedsides that cooperate to define a generally rectangular shape having anopen center, each of the ends of the support plate having a pair of themounting portions and a mounting guide portion therebetween, the pair ofmounting portions and mounting guide portion of one end of the supportplate being exposed outwardly with respect to the rectangular shape ofthe support plate, the pair of mounting portions and mounting guideportion of the other end of the support plate being within the opencenter of the rectangular shape of the support plate, and each side ofthe support plate having a mounting guide portion located within theopen center of its rectangular shape; alignment guides that align themolds with each other as necessary during movement thereof toward eachother; and detachable connectors for connecting the molds to each otherto permit the lower mold to be suspended from the upper mold duringinstallation in and removal from a glass sheet forming station, and theconnectors disconnecting the molds from each other for use in forming ofglass sheets in the glass sheet forming station.